A range of activities are currently underway to improve access to malaria prevention and control interventions. As disease control strategies change over time, it is crucial to understand the health-seeking behaviour and the local socio-cultural context in which the changes in interventions operate. This paper reflects on how people in an area of seasonal malaria perceive the causes and transmission of the disease, and what prevention and treatment measures they practise to cope with the disease. It also highlights some of the challenges of malaria treatment for health care providers. The study was undertaken in 2003 in Adami Tulu District in south-central Ethiopia, where malaria is a major health problem. Pre-tested structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were conducted among men and women. Malaria, locally known as busa, was perceived as the most important cause of ill health in the area. Respondent's perception and knowledge about the cause and transmission of the disease were relatively high. The newly introduced insecticide-treated nets were not popular in the area, and only 6.4% of households possessed at least one. The results showed that patients use multiple sources of health care for malaria treatment. Public health facilities, private clinics and community health workers were the main providers of malaria treatment. Despite higher treatment costs, people preferred to use private health care providers for malaria treatment due to the higher perceived quality of care they offer. In conclusion, effort in the prevention and control of malaria should be intensified through addressing not only public facilities, but also the private sector and community-based control interventions. Appropriate and relevant information on malaria should be disseminated to the local community. The authors propose the provision of effective antimalarial drugs and malaria prevention tools such as subsidized or free insecticide-treated nets.

Background: Air pollution level in Addis Ababa is presumed to be high due to the prevalence of old vehicles and substandard road infrastructures. This study assessed CO concentration as a measure of traffic air pollution. Materials and methods: a total of 80 road side and 24 on-road daily traffic air samples during wet and dry seasons of 2007 and 2008, respectively, were taken using CO data logger. A structured checklist was used to document related data. Downloaded data from the CO sampler was used to generate summary statistics and data presentations. Data quality of CO measurement was ensured using calibration checks. Results: The mean for 15 minutes CO concentration was 2.1 ppm (GM=1.3) and 2.8 ppm (GM=2.2) for wet and dry seasons, respectively. The concentrations from season to season varied statistically. The CO temporal and spatial profiles among the two seasons were similar. The overall mean on-road CO concentration was 5.4 ppm (GM=5.3). Fifteen percent of roadside samples and all on-road samples exhibited more than 50% of the 8-hr CO WHO guideline.. Daily CO maxima were observed in early mornings and late afternoons. Conclusions: The consistency in spatial and temporal profiles and the variation on both on-road and road side traffic lines imply that vehicles are the main source of traffic air pollution. There is a concern that the CO 8-hr World Health Organization guideline might be exceeded in future. [Ethiop.

Background A nutritional problem, especially under nutrition is one of the common public health problems in elderly causing greater mortality and economic loss in developing countries. However, evidences on the risk factors for increased nutritional risk among elderly is not well stated in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and predictors of malnutrition among elderly (> = 65 years) in Eastern Ethiopia.Methods Community based survey was conducted among randomly selected 592 elderly age above 65 years of age in Harari region selected using multistage sampling Pretested full Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool was used to classify as malnourished (MNA score <17), at risk of malnutrition (MNA score of 17 to 23.5) and otherwise normal. Validated geriatric depression scale short form (15 items) was employed to screen for depression. Statistical tables, frequency, percentage and graphs. Ordinary logistic regression was employed to identify predictors of malnutrition and plum method was used to generate odds ratio. Level of statistical significance was declared at P value less than 5%. Chi-square test, crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence was reported. Results A total of 592 respondents with response rate of 93.4% were interviewed. A total of 306 (51.7%) and 93 (15.7%) were found to be at risk of malnutrition and malnourished respectively. The predicted log odds of being malnourished was higher among those from rural residents (AOR = 2.08: 1.25-3.45), not on working (AOR = 1.31: 95% CI: 0.87-1.95) and did not have health insurance (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI; 0.97-2.58). Those with chronic pain (AOR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.15-2.51), previous hospitalization (AOR = 1.59: 95% CI: 1.27-2.38) and not able to cover their personal expense (AOR =1.61: 95% CI: 1.12-2.30) were predictors of malnutrition. The relationship between previous hospitalizations with malnutrition among elderly is moderated significantly by the presence of chronic pain (β = 0.113, p = 0.015).Conclusions Malnutrition among old age is public health concern that needs attention. Economic vulnerability, residence, depression, presence of chronic disease and hospitalization were an important risk factors for malnutrition among old age.

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Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the common preventable causes of mortality and disability among road traffic victims worldwide, most especially in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. Objective to determine risk factors of mortality after traumatic brain injury due to road traffic crash. Methods This study aimed to examine the predictive factors of short-term mortality after severe brain injury due to a road traffic crash. The study was done on a prospective cohort of 242 severely brain-injured patients selected using cluster sampling in Addis Ababa City hospitals. The study was conducted from February 2018 to November 2019. Data were collected from brain-injured patients using a questionnaire and recorded findings within the first 24 hours of admission, Survival Analysis was used for statistical analysis. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences Institutional Review Board (IRB). Confidentiality of information about injured patients was maintained. Results In this study, the death rate was 73(30.2%). The majority of TBI patients accounting for, 186(81%) were men. The median age of TBI patients was 29 years. The hazard for those patients with subnormal body temperature was 1.64 times that of normal temperature (AHR: 1.64; CI: 2.14-10.29). The estimated fatality hazard ratio for patients who experienced Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)below six was 5.61 times higher compared to GCS six to eight (CI:3.1-10.24). Conclusion In conclusion, there was high early mortality of patients (30.2%) in Ethiopia. Being men, young and lower GCS were associated with higher mortality hazards. Hence, optimum advanced neuro-surgical pre-hospital care programs are urgently needed.